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Forecasters boost predicted snowfall total; valley still in for rain

Weather forecasters have upped the predicted snowfall total from this weekend’s approaching wintry storm and issued fresh advisories for some of the lower elevations of western Colorado.

The National Weather Service in Grand Junction this afternoon upgraded a winter storm watch that was in place for Grand and Battlement mesas, the Uncompahgre Plateau and the San Juan Mountains to a winter storm warning. The warning is in effect from 6 a.m. Saturday to 6 p.m. Sunday, with forecasters now predicting as much as 15 inches of snow in some areas. Snowfall will begin at 9,000 feet on Saturday, then lower to mountain bases Saturday night. Forecasters say the heaviest snowfall will occur Saturday night, with precipitation decreasing from the west Sunday afternoon.

A winter storm watch is in effect from Saturday afternoon through Sunday evening for many of the central and northern mountains, including the Elkhead, Park, Gore, Elk Mountains and the central mountain valleys, where 6 to 12 inches of snow is expected. There’s also a winter weather advisory in place for the northwestern and extreme southwestern corners of the state, where 2 to 5 inches of snow could fall above 7,000 feet, according to the National Weather Service.

It appears the Grand Valley will escape the potential for snow, but not rain. There’s an 80 percent chance of rain Saturday, with a forecast high of 64. Rain will continue overnight Saturday into Sunday, when the high will reach only 59.